Toy vehicle,particularly a model locomotive

ABSTRACT

A TOY VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY A MODEL LOCOMOTIVE, HAVING A DRIVING MOTOR ASSOCIATED WITH A GEARING, INCLUDING IN THE VEHICLE CHASSIS A MOUNTING BLOCK, FORMING A SELFCONTAINED HOUSING FOR THE GEARING AND SERVING AS A SUPPORTING FRAME FOR THE MOTOR, AND CLOSED BY A DETACHABLE SIDE PANEL CONTAINING THE BEARINGS FOR ONE END OF THE AXLE PINS OF GEARWHEELS.

Oct. 5, 1871 w. RICHTER 3,609,910

TOY VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY A MODEL LOCOMOTIVE Filed Dec. 27, 1968 United States Patent O 3,609,910 TOY VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY A MODEL LOCOMOTIVE Wolfgang Richter, Nuremberg, Germany, assignor to Ernst Paul Lehmann, Patentwerk, Nuremberg, Germany Filed Dec. 27, 1968, Ser. No. 787,473 Claims priority, application Germany, June 26, 1968, P 17 03 670.3 Int. Cl. A63h 19/10 US. Cl. 46-243 M Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toy vehicle, particularly a model locomotive, having a driving motor associated with a gearing, including in the vehicle chassis a mounting block, forming a selfcontained housing for the gearing and serving as a supporting frame for the motor, and closed by a detachable side panel containing the bearings for one end of the axle pins of gearwheels.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION In conventional toy and model railway locomotives the motor and the gearing are mounted directly in the underframe. This creates difiiculties in the production of the underframe. More particularly, subsequent fitting is often required and it is not easy to design a configuration which is suitable for production by injection or press moulding. Also in conventional toy vehicles it is a particular drawback that the gearing is not protected from dust and moisture.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a toy vehicle in which the gearing is accommodated in a substantially dust-and-moisture-proof housing, and which is also easy to produce and assemble.

This invention relates to a toy vehicle, particularly to a toy or model locomotive having a driving motor associated with gearing.

According to the present invention a spatial mounting block is provided which is insertable into a chassis, said mounting block forming a self-contained housing for the gearing and also serving as a supporting frame for the motor, and being closed by a detachable side panel containing the bearings for one end of the axle pins of the gearwheels.

The mounting block, which is insertable into the chassis, may have substantially fiat external walls so that it is capable of being easily produced for instance by injection moulding. Since one end bearings of the axle pins of the gearwheels are mounted in the detachable side panel, assembly of the gearwheels merely involves their insertion into the housing and the afiixation of the detachable side panel. The side panel provides a substantially dust-and-moisture-proof closure for the gear housing. After the motor and the gearwheels have been assembled in the mounting block, the latter need merely be inserted into and possibly located in the chassis.

Further according to the present invention the motor is accommodated in a well-shaped recess in the top of the mounting block alongside the gear housing, the driving pinion of the motor meshing with the input gear of the gearing inside the gear housing and a collar at the end of the motor resting in a corresponding opening in the adjacent end wall of the gear housing. The collar of the motor thus closes the opening in the wall of the housing through which the pinion of the motor has been inserted.

Assembly of the gearing is facilitated and the precision of location of the gearwheels improved if, according to 31,609,910 Patented Oct. 5, 1971 ice another feature of the invention, some of the gearwheels are mounted on axle pins integral with the wall of the housing and others are integral with their axle pins.

If the gearwheels are provided with hubs, or bosses are formed in the detachable side panel, the gearwheels will be prevented from rubbing against the side panel.

.Moreover, in order to facilitate lubricating the gearing when the housing is closed, the detachable side panel is preferably provided with an opening in the region where two gearwheels mesh.

By providing the side panel with locating elements on its edges and the mounting block with cooperating locating elements, the position of the detachable side panel can be precisely fixed without any difficulty.

According to still another feature of the invention, the detachable side panel may be integral with an internal transverse wall, this being the wall of the gear housing in which one. end of the motor rests. This means that the side panel cannot be dismantled until the motor has been removed, in other words, that the toy vehicle can be dismantled only by an expert. Furthermore, this arrangement has the advantage that a simpler tool can be used for making the mounting block, as a complicated sliding tool would be required if the transverse wall were formed as part of the mounting block.

Conveniently, the transverse wall is insertable into grooves in the gear housing. If the end of the transverse wall is provided with a suitable tab this can be inserted into an opening in the housing Wall opposite the detachable panel and the transverse wall thereby securely located.

Preferably the gearwheels and the mounting block are made of glass-fibre-reinforced synthetic resin. This not only makes for mechanical stability but it also provides corrosion resistance and at the same time the gear housing can be satisfactorily sealed and a smooth running gearing provided.

If the toy vehicle is driven by an electric motor, it is accommodated in a longitudinal niche in the mounting block, when an overload cut-out for protecting the motor may also be provided, preferably, in the gear housing. For locating this cut-out one side wall of the niche may be formed with a tab embracing one side of the cut-out, while the other side wall of the niche may be provided with screw threads for the reception of a locating screw. For mounting the overload cut-out only a single screw need therefore be screwed into the threads in the housing.

The wiring for the supply of electric current is facilitated by providing on each side of the niche an opening for the reception of the connecting wires. Preferably these Openings have the form of slits with one leg parallel and the other leg perpendicular to the side Walls of the mounting block. The wires can be easily threaded into these slits and when the mounting block has been inserted into the chassis they are satisfactorily secured.

The gear housing may be provided with holders for the current collectors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG.1 is a plan view of the mounting block complete with running Wheels and a motor in place,

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side elevational views of opposite sides of the mounting block,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that in FIG. 2, but after removal of the side panel, and

FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line VV in FIG. 4 and shows also the displaced side panel.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION A vehicle chassis 1, indicated in dot-dash lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, is adapted to contain a substantially rectangular mounting block or box 2 made of glass-fibre-reinforced synthetic resin, the mounting block 2 being preferably inserted as a tight fit into a recess in the chassis conforming with the contour of the block.

The mounting block 2 forms a self-contained housing 3 for the gearwheels 4, 5, 5', 6- of a gearing likewise made of glass-fibre-reinforced plastics material, as well as a sup porting frame for a motor 8, besides carrying sleeve-like holders 9 for spring urged current collecting contacts 10 engaging a pair of running wheels. The mounting block 2 forms a box-shaped container 12 with a smooth side wall 11 and closed on the side opposite to side wall 11 by a detachable panel 14 secured for instance by screws 13, 13' and 13 The screws 13, 13 and 13 are insertable into threaded bushes 15 provided in the box-shaped container 12.

The gear housing 3 is enclosed at the top and bottom and one one side by walls of the box-shaped container 12 and on the remaining longitudinal side by the detachable panel 14. One end face of the housing is formed by the end wall 16 of the box-shaped container 12, whereas the other end is closed by a transverse Wall 17. The transverse wall 17, as shown in FIG. 5 is integral with the detachable side panel 14 and is insertable into slots 18 in the gear housing 3. At one end this transverse wall has a projecting tab 19 which engages an opening 20 in the side wall 11 of the gear ,housing 3 opposite the detachable panel 14.

The gearwheels 4, 5 and 5 are loosely mounted on axle pins 21, 21 and 21 integrally formed with the wall 11 of the box-shaped container 12, while the axle pins 22, 22' of the gearwheels 6 and 7 are integral with these gearwheels and run in holes 23, 23 in the side wall 11. The free ends of the axle pins 21, 21, 21 22 and 22' of the gearwheels 4 to 7 are mounted in holes 24, 24', 24 24 and 24 in the detachable side panel 14.

In addition to the holes for the axle pins of the gearwheels, the detachable side panel 14 also contains a hole 25 in the region where the two gearwheels 4 and 6 mesh to provide access for oiling the gearing without removal of the side panel 14. In order to prevent the side panel 14 from shifting in relation to the box-shaped container 12 and from thereby impairing a satisfactory cooperation of the gearwheels, the detachable side panel 14 is formed with locating elements on its edges and the mounting block 2 has cooperating elements 26 in corresponding positions. These elements may have the form of recesses cooperating with projecting tabs.

Electric motor 8 is accommodated in a recess 27 in the top of the mounting block 2, alongside the gear housing 3. The end of the motor abutting the transverse wall 17 carries a pinion 28 which cooperates with the input gear wheel 7 one side of which forms a crown wheel of the gearing. The end face of the motor 8 carrying the pinion 28 is formed concentrically about the motor shaft with a collar 29 which engages a circular opening 30 in the transverse wall 17. Since the dimensions of the collar 29 and of the opening 30 are roughly identical, their interengagernent ensures a safe location of the motor 8 and also seals the housing 3. The other end face 31 of the motor 8 is likewise formed with a collar 32 which cooperates with a retaining plate 33 attachable to the mounting block 2 by screws (not shown). The retaining plate 33 also carries two soldering tabs 34 for the connection of the current conducting wires, and two contacts 35 for supplying the motor 8 as well as contacts 36 for supplying other points of consumption with electric current.

The toy vehicle is driven by the drive pinion 28 of the motor 8 meshing with the crown Wheel part of the input gear 7. The spur wheel part of the input gear 7, which is fast with the crown wheel, meshes with the larger diameter wheel of the gear 6, while the smaller wheel thereof drives the gearwheel 4. The latter cooperates with two spur wheels 5, 5 which in turn mesh with gear wheels 39, 39' mounted on the axles 37, of the track wheels 38, 38'. The axles 37 of the track wheels 38, 38' are mounted in holes provided in the side wall 11 of the box-shaped container 12 and in the detachable side panel 14 in the same way as the axle pins of the gearwheels 6 and 7. In order to prevent the teeth of the gearwheels 4, 5, 5', 6, 7, 39 and 39 from rubbing against the detachable side panel 14 either the latter is formed (as shown) with bosses 40 (FIG. 5) surrounding the holes for the reception of the axle pins or hubs 41 may be formed on the gearwheels 4, 5.

As the driving motor 8 is shown as an electric motor, overloading of the motor may be prevented by the provision of a safety cut-out 42 of known form. This overload cut-out 42 is accommodated in a niche 43 in the mounting block 2, preferably in the side of the housing 3 formed by the side wall 11. The overload cut-out 42 is secured by a tab 45 on the side wall 44 embracing the side of the cut-out and by a retaining screw 46 which engages the cut-out 42. In order to facilitate insertion of the connecting wires 47 between the current collector holders 9, the overload cutout 42 and the soldering tabs 34 on the retaining plate 33, and at the same time to provide some fixation for the connecting wires 47, at the ends of the niche 43 are provided openings 48, 48 in the form of angle slits having one leg extending parallel to and the other leg perpendicularly to the side wall 11 or panels 14 of the mounting block 2. The connecting wires 47 can be readily inserted into these slits. After the chassis 1 has been pushed over the mounting block the wires 47 are securely held in the slits.

I claim:

1. A motor-driven toy vehicle having wheels designed for running on the rails of a toy railroad track, said vehicle comprising:

a chassis rotatably mounting the track running wheels of the vehicle, said chassis including a cut out in its base;

a closed mounting box, walls of said box and a support wall within the box defining therein a closed housing for a gear train and in alignment with the housing a mounting frame for a motor, one of the side walls of the box defining said housing being detachable, said box being insertable from below into said cut out for retention on the chassis with a tight fit;

a gear train having an input gear, at least one intermediate gear and an output gear, each of said gears being mounted on an axle, said gear train being disposed in said housing with one end of each axle extending into an opening in said detachable wall of the box; and

a drive motor mounted on said frame within the box, said motor having a drive shaft mounting on one end a gear in driving engagement with the input gear of the gear train, the output gear of the gear train being drivingly coupled with at least one of the track wheels of the vehicle.

2. The toy vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said input gear has peripheral teeth meshing with the input gear of the gear train and on one of its sides crown wheel teeth meshing with the gear on the drive shaft, the end of the drive shaft mounting said gear extending into the housing through said support wall within the box, the other end of the drive shaft being supported by a bracket secured to a side wall of the mounting box.

3. The toy vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the other ends of some of the gear axles are integral with the box walls opposite the detachable wall and the respective gears are rotatably seated on said axles and the other ends of the remaining gear axles are rotatably supported in said one box wall and the respective gears are fixedly secured to said other gear axles.

4. The toy vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said support wall within the mounting box extends from said detachable box wall normal thereto, and wherein the end of the drive shaft is rotatably supported in an opening of said wall and extends into the housing.

5. The toy vehicle according to claim 4 wherein one of the walls defining said gear train housing includes guide grooves, and said support wall extending from the detachable box wall is receivable in said grooves.

6. The toy vehicle according to claim 4 wherein a box Wall opposite the detachable box wall and the support wall extending from said detachable box wall have a nose and an opening respectively engageable with each other for positively securing the position of the detachable wall.

7. The toy vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said mounting box and the gears of said gear train are made of fiberglass reinforced resin.

8. The toy vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said motor is an electric motor, and wherein an overload cut-out switch is connected in circuit with said motor, said switch being mounted within said mounting box.

9. The toy vehicle according to claim 8 wherein said 6 switch is disposed in a recess in the housing within the mounting box.

10. The toy vehicle according to claim 9 wherein a tongue extends from one of the wall portions defining said recess and overlies the switch, and a screw extending through said switch is threaded into a threaded bore in another wall portion defining said recess thereby securing the switch within the recess.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,897,770 8/1959 Bonnano 46217X 3,041,485 6/1962 Jolley 46-244X RUSSELL R. KINSEY, Primary Examiner R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 46-217; IDS-49 

